Do not panic after being bitten by a tick, but you need to operate correctly to minimize the risk of infection.

Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick's head (not the body) as close to the skin surface as possible — do not squeeze the tick's abdomen, as this can act like a syringe and inject the pathogens inside the tick into the wound.

Pull upward with steady, even pressure — do not twist or jerk; a tick's mouthparts have barbs, and twisting may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.

After removing the tick, disinfect the bite site with alcohol or iodine.

Place the tick in a sealed plastic bag, label it with the removal date — if symptoms develop later, providing the tick to the doctor for species identification can aid diagnosis.

Monitor the bite site and systemic symptoms for the next 30 days — if a bullseye rash, fever, or joint pain appears, seek medical attention immediately.

Incorrect tick removal methods include applying petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or burning with a hot match — these can stimulate the tick to regurgitate, increasing the risk of pathogen transmission.